Austin Air Purifiers Q&A
What is your top recommended air purifier and why?
Our top recommended air purifier is Austin Air Health Plus. The Health Plus is our best-selling room air purifier because of its advanced filtration technology for superior filtration of airborne allergen particles, viruses, pollutants, odors and gases. Austin Air patented HyperHEPA® filter offers the most effective air filtration available, as it filters particles down to 0.003 microns with 99.5% efficiency, and that’s 100 times smaller than ordinary HEPA.
Price Objection: Why should I pay $900 for an air purifier?
Austin Air is in a class of its own. People often ask if it’s the Mercedes or Cadillac of automobiles, but that’s an inaccurate comparison. A better comparison would be exploring transportation and comparing a skateboard to an airplane. They’re both means of transportation; however, an airplane is able to fly over water. A skateboard can't get you to Hawaii, but an airplane can. Similarly, IQAir is the only purifier proven to filter the ultrafine particles that are known to be the most harmful to our health. At the same time, these smaller particles represent the bulk of the pollutants in our air (over 90% of airborne particles are 0.1 microns or smaller). It is absolutely worth spending the extra money to get the necessary protection against the smaller, most harmful particles. It will make a huge difference in the quality of the air that you and your family will be breathing.
Why do you recommend the Health Plus for Asthma?
The American Lung Association recommends the comprehensive removal of asthma triggering substances from the indoor environment of the asthmatic as the most effective strategy for minimizing the incidence of asthma symptoms. Triggering particles are the one’s much smaller than 0.3 microns because they can be breathed into your lungs. A standard HEPA filter may only remove down to a 0.3 micron level. This is why it is crucial to have the HealthPro Plus with HyperHEPA technology, which filters ultrafine particulates down to 0.003 @ 99.5%, and a V-5 Gas & Odor filter. This results in a drastic reduction of asthma triggers.
The filter replacements cost is too high for my budget.
On average the filter replacement cost is only ~ $128/per year. During the life of an IQAir air purifier the filters will continue to filter at a high efficiency, while other air purifiers drop in efficiency. In fact, in most cases the IQAir will typically show a zero reading on a Particle Counter even when all the filters are on red, which indicates a filter needs to be replaced. Also by using our intelligent Control Panel it will reduce energy costs and extend filter life; precisely forecasting filter replacements using color-coded lights to indicate when a filter replacement is needed. For example, by programming it to turn off at 8am (when you go to work) and program to turn on at 5pm (an hour before you get home) you will save the filter life and energy by operating the air purifier only when it’s needed. IQAir is absolutely worth the extra money and will save you money over time by reducing the amount of filter replacements needed, and may even lower your medical costs (doctor & ER visits, less medication etc.)
I am only looking for a bedroom air purifier, so the Austin is just too big.
We have designed and engineered the best air purifier to be as compact as possible. The HealthPlus Compact is our smallest air purifier and is a perfect fit for small rooms. There is a big misconception that small rooms don’t need high quality air cleaning. One Austin Air air purifier can clean the air in a room up to 900 sq. ft. and we feel you can never have the air “too” clean. There is an additional advantage to having an Austin Air in a smaller room. You can use lower speed settings, such as one or two, which makes the air purifier barely audible and extends your filter life.
What is the best air purifier for dust mites and why?
With dust mite allergies it is often their feces that trigger the worst symptoms, not the dust mites. And their feces are ultrafine in size. An ordinary HEPA may filter down to 0.3 microns, so it is not sufficient to filter dust mite feces. Austin Air’s patented HyperHEPA® filter offers the most effective air filtration available as it filters particles down to 0.003 microns with 99.5% efficiency, that’s 100 times smaller than ordinary HEPA.
Noise is a concern for me and some other brands claim to have a “quiet design” or a “silent HEPA.”
IQAir systems feature an ultra-quiet design. Our “fan-in-center” design places the fan motor between sound attenuating filters. Our double-walled housing and rubber suspension pads isolate motor vibration effectively reducing sound transmission. Additionally the EvenFlow Diffuser deflects sounds back into the system, while returning low turbulence, low velocity air to your room. This all results in an air purifier quiet enough for your bedroom while providing medical-grade air. If an air purifier is not making any noise, is it really moving any air?
The Austin Air units seem to be for “severe” cases, and I only have mild allergies.
We feel you can never have the air “too” clean. Poor air quality has been linked to many serious health concerns such as heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. The IQAir is the best choice for any air quality issue, not just severe cases. It’s important to treat the air quality in your home, even just for mild issues or relief, because in the long run it may protect you from other dangerous air quality issues as well.
Why is the GC MultiGas best for those with Chemical Sensitivity?
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is an unusually severe sensitivity or allergic-like reaction to very low levels of different types of chemicals. MCS symptoms commonly include difficulty breathing, sleeping, concentration difficulties, nausea, chronic fatigue, aching joints, and irritation to eyes, nose, ears, and throat. IQAir recommends the GC MultiGas for individuals suffering from MCS. The GC MultiGas offers the best solution for a MCS sufferer because it covers a very wide range of gases, odors, and chemicals by using dual filtration technology of activated carbon & impregnated alumina. Also all IQAir models are constructed using a special non off-gassing ABS plastic and food grade organic glue.
I have a 2-story home and cannot afford 2 units, will 1 HealthPro Plus make a difference in a 2 story home? Or am I better off going with 2 cheaper air purifiers, for the same price, and being able to spread them out?
If your budget is limited it is still a better option to start with a single HealthPro Plus. Other brands do not remove the level of particulates that the IQAir models are capable of. If you can only afford one at this time, I would suggest putting it in your bedroom. The bedroom is typically where people spend most of their time at home. While you sleep your lungs expand to their greatest point, and this is when the most dangerous ultrafine particles are absorbed into the bloodstream. The HealthPro Plus is the only air purifier proven to filter ultrafine particles down to 0.003 microns with 99.5% efficiency, that’s 100 times smaller than ordinary HEPA.
What is your best recommendation for Pet Allergies?
The cause of most pet allergies is not from the hair of the animal, it’s the dander from old skin flakes shed by animals. At times you can actually see the small white dander flakes coming off your pet. But that same dander is also microscopic in size, unseen by the human eye, and as small as 0.05 microns. And only IQAir’s patented HyperHEPA technology filters particles down to 0.003 microns with 99.5% efficiency, that’s 100 times smaller than ordinary HEPA. Pet allergies can also be caused by proteins in pet hair, saliva, and urine. These particulates can become airborne for a long period of time causing breathing problems such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. And with people with sensitivities this can happen within minutes, sometimes even within seconds, of exposure. IQAir's HyperHEPA® filtration permanently removes airborne pet dander and allergic proteins. Additionally, the HealthPro Plus has a V-5 Gas & Odor filter which is highly effective in removing odors left behind by your pet.